Borussia M’gladbach 3 Bayern 4

Resolute FCB sign off with swashbuckling win

Created on 18-05-2013 at 00:00 AM

Full-strength Bayern warmed up for the Champions League final with a stirring fightback and ultimately deserved victory away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday afternoon, as the sides served up a seven-goal thriller to mark Jupp Heynckes’ 1,012th and last match in the Bundesliga.

The 54,010 full house at Borussia Park saw the home side rocket into a two-goal lead after just five minutes with goals from Martin Stranzl and Mike Hanke, but although Javi Martinez calmly pulled one back straightaway, Havard Nordtveit restored the two-goal lead on ten minutes.

Franck Ribery cut the deficit after 18 minutes to round off an exhilarating opening period, but although the visitors dominated the rest of the first half and created a number of chances, there were no more goals before the break. Ribery levelled the scores on 52 minutes with a sumptuous volley from fully 20 yards, and Arjen Robben completed the comeback seven minutes later with a close-range finish.

An astonishing 15th victory in 17 away fixtures means champions Bayern finish this record-breaking season on 91 points, a mammoth 25 ahead of distant runners-up Dortmund. The focus now turns to the Champions League final in London next weekend, where FCB start as favourites in the all-German final against domestic rivals BVB.